This photo of Paradise Resort Gold Coast is courtesy of TripAdvisor
I love vacations and have done quite a bit of it in my life. Since having children, we’ve managed to take the children away for a week around Christmas time to a resort or holiday house style accommodation and they’ve loved it Me, not so much. I’m always worried about the noise they make, if they break something, how they might behave in a restaurant (so we don’t usually go out to dine). I’m not saying they’re terribly naughty. They’re just being kids but it drives me crazy and I worry about them getting into trouble.
That was until we discovered Paradise Resort at Surfers Paradise. I’ve known about it for years but never found the opportunity or the money to go but we scored a really great deal at the start of this year for around $120 per day for 2 adults and 2 children with lots of inclusions. Winter obviously isn’t the best time of year to go but it didn’t deter my kids. One minute they were in the heated pool and the next they were rugged up ice skating in the indoor skating rink.
After arriving in the mid afternoon, we checked out the place and as soon as the kids saw the pool, that was it. The air temperature wasn’t too bad but lucky the pool was heated. I didn’t go in but the kids had a blast.
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| Busting some moves at the live gig |
After a nice warm bath, we ordered some takeaway pizzas and headed back to the room for dinner, TV and bed and the fight over who was going to sleep with me.
In the morning we headed to the kid’s first buffet breakfast. They thought it was wonderful and my fussy daughter could’ve knocked me over by grabbing a bowl of cocoa pops but ummed and ahhed about it being something or other and left it and finished up having a piece of Vegemite toast.
From there it was on to 4 hours of Kid’s club, including lunch. The theme was cowboys and indians and they had an absolute ball, making friends, playing and keeping amused. I ducked out to the nearest shopping centre for a browse but I no longer got there and it wasn’t too long before I had to come back. Roadworks to make way for a light rail network were absolutely dreadful near our accommodation. I wanted to make sure I was back in time.
After that we had the option of cupcake decorating (or was that hair braiding or poolside activities or plaster painting, I can’t remember) but waited a little while before we went to our free booked 2 hour ice skating session. My daughter had tried roller skating once before and I honestly thought she’d be way too scared to give this a go but she surprised me. She kept it up for the whole 2 hours. We had an early dinner and both kids hit the hay soon after. They must’ve been exhausted.
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| This pool was not heated. They were killing themselves laughing. Oh to be young again. |
The next day, after breakfast, we visited my dear blogging friend Amanda from Cooking for Busy Mums and when we got back the kids went for a swim. They wore themselves out again and played with their toys in the room until their Dad arrived to spend the last night and day with them while I headed home to the fur babies. I’d never left my dogs in 12 years by themselves. I had the lady next door come and feed them. They had a doggie door to go in and out. They didn’t make a sound and were so good. I got the best welcome home ever.
I’ve loved all the vacations I’ve had with my kids but this one has to be the best. Although the accommodation and actual resort might be a little ‘tired’ and in desperate need of a complete refurbishment, you couldn’t ask for a better kid-friendly resort or atmosphere. Don’t expect anything gourmet. The food is filling and reasonably priced for a resort. It didn’t matter that my kids argued over a hot chip at the dinner table, bounced around, spilled drinks at the table or ran loudly through the accommodation. Every other kid did it and you didn’t feel out of place. I highly recommend it (if you’re holidaying with kids that is).
Paradise Resort
122 Ferny Avenue
Surfers Paradise Qld 4217
Disclaimer: I was not paid to write this post but wanted to share my thoughts on our time there. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wow! Looks like a lovely time! We had 7 kids in our family. I don't think my mom ever really enjoyed a vacation. She would have loved this!
Sounds like you had a most wonderful time Anne. The kids sure look like they did. How wonderful they got to have some time there with both you and therir dad, by the way which ou planned it. Roadworks all over the coast for this light rail are a pain the you know what. Hope it's going to be worth millions of dollars their investing into for the Com Games. It really needs to be extended out further and link up with more of the train stations for it to be something useful to the entire coast. Sorry for the mini rant.
Sounds like the perfect holiday in the perfect place.
Glad it went well and you all had a great time.
Oh Anne this place sounds ideal for kids…sounds like thy had a blast and you came home a day early…perfect!
Sounds so fun for kids. We took our kids when they were younger to Club Med on Lindeman Island and it too was very rundown. We had a blast though as the kids were in heaven! It was a few years ago so it may well be renovated now.
Hope all is going well for you.
We've recently booked a week up that way for summer. Can't wait. I think that's where we're staying:-)
I have not been to Surfers in years, oh this makes me want to go!
Wow, what a super fun getaway..you got some amazing photos, Anne! I bet you smile every time you see them! 😀